ask the parents By pjm

First, I must say that if you haven't been talking to the parents already about your concerns you have waited too long....you should NOT spring I want to have Johnny tested because school is too hard, - as your first conversation on his failing performance.

Next I'd have to ask what interventions have you tried and documented and for how long? If you haven't done any or have not documented them then you need to as part of the special education referral. At this point is where and when you should have begun talking to mom and dad about your concerns about Johnny

That said, I'd ask mom and dad if they have any concerns about Johnny's education and do they feel he is doing at school. I'd ask if they've noticed that he has any particular problems with doing the homework or does he complain ever that school is too hard? After listening to all that mom and dad have said then I'd say I have some concerns about Johnny. He is struggling in the area of _______....or something like that.

If in fact you have already done all of the above then I'd call mom and dad and say I know you've been worried about Johnny's school performance and so have I. Here's what we've already tried with Johnny to help him succeed and unfortunately they have not worked. At this point I do not know what to do to help him. Luckily, we do have other very fine professionals at our school who can evaluate Johnny and we can then all meet and decide how best to help Johnny. This would involve....fill in the blank about what types of testing would be done....and also tell them they'll need to sign a permission form....at that point you will know what else to say...